I couldn't decide on a tone for my post this morning. On the one hand I had a wonderful evening yesterday and still feel a pleasant afterglow from the fun and giggles. On the other hand my body is fighting sleep like it's the Norman invasion and I need an IV of caffeine. I also have a lot of work to do and prefer to use my spare internet time to research recipes and toys for Landon's birthday party, so we're going with a list of the good and the bad that's floating in the forefront of my mind right now:
The negative:
- My insomnia is trying to kill me. It's close to succeeding.
- The high today is 102, tomorrow's is 104, and Friday's is 103 and Saturday's is a cool 100. And summer just got started.
- I had to stop and get gas this morning. I hate getting gas. Absolutely hate it. I will drive for two days on Empty with the little red light yelling at me until I finally pull over and fill up. The delay makes no sense- I'm going to have to get gas at some point and waiting that long only makes it take longer because the tank is really and truly empty. Getting gas is not physically taxing and delaying risks running out on a 104 degree day with a toddler in tow, and yet I continue to do it.
- I am having moments of bitterness over our lack of vacations. I would like a surprise pot of money or a kind benefactor/family member to take us somewhere. Please.
- I still can't wear heels and have only two pairs of pants (neither of which I like much) that can be worn with flats. I'm going back to heels on Monday because my back is 99% better and I'm spending entirely too much time standing in my closet thinking of new ways to wear the same clothes.
And now for the positive:
- I left work at 5:30 yesterday and took Landon to the neighborhood pool. We were there in all our pale skin, sunscreened and swim-suited glory by 6:15 and had a blast. JP was coaching so we got to wave at him in between splash sessions in the baby pool. This was the first time Landon really got into the swimming thing - so far he's preferred to run around on the grass behind the pool and pointing out the WAWA! every five seconds. But yesterday he played (and squealed marvelous giggly squeals) in the fountains and under the water-dumping buckets in the baby pool. He crawled around the 8" deep water chanting some special song to himself and found it hilarious when I would crawl next to him. I showed him how to blow bubbles in the water and he really loved that trick. JP joined us after practice was over and we didn't get home until 7:30. It was so fun and so different from our normal evening routine that I couldn't help feeling like it was a weekend - it was so hard to remember being at work in my lawyer suit for 8 hours earlier in the day.
- Even after we got home, last night was lovely. Landon was all funny and cuddly and non-tantrummy. We read books and had big family cuddles on the couch. He went down without protest at 8 and slept in until 8:15!! Swimming is a magical activity.
- I have a new research project - buying a car. My car is 11 years old and gets terrible gas mileage so it will qualify for the about-to-be-signed "cash for clunkers" bill. With that $4500 rebate and dealer incentives, it seems crazy not to at least look around. I'm planning to switch to something smaller and non-SUVish with a great warranty and MPG rating. I'm currently thinking about the Hyundai Sonata, let me know if you have thoughts.
- Seriously, last night was lots of fun. I feel very refreshed for a Wednesday morning, like I just had a day off.
That's all. Ending with the positives just put me in a good mood, so yay for that. Back to work!
good update. carwise - check out the Toyota Matrix - all the good stuff of an SUV and none of the bad stuff, plus it gets 34 MPG.
ReplyDeleteA note about positive thing #3--the story you link to says this:
ReplyDelete"Vouchers don’t come as an addition to trade-in values because cars brought in under the cash-for-clunkers program have to be scrapped, so their trade-in value is essentially zero."
So. . . take that into consideration. You either get the $4500 (assuming your old & new cars qualify for the full amount), or you take your trade-in value, but not both.
Thanks Anon -- I think my car is only worth about $1000 so I suppose that's fair. And another reason we should take advantage of the Program since my trade-in value is next to nothing.
ReplyDeleteI hate getting gas, too. I try to time it so that DH is with me so he can fill up for me. Be careful about running too low in the heat--gas can evaporate, even inside your tank.
ReplyDeleteHope you get some sleep soon!
I have a Hyundai Santa Fe and I love it! I test drove every single small/midsize SUV on the market (well except for the luxury brans), nothing compared to it and it was a lot cheaper. It rides like a car, has tons of spaces and safety features that you pay extra for with other brands come standard. I haven't had to pay for anything car related, except for gas, since I bought it in Jan 08. Seriously, they threw in free oil changes and inspections! I have had no problems with it.
ReplyDeleteBoth of my parents are considering trading their vehicles in after riding in it.
Basically: I love Hyundais! Specifically, my Santa Fe.
Thanks for the link on that car deal; I remember when the state tried to do it. The program ran out of money VERY quickly. My brother's 1994 Jeep (ughhh) is on its last leg, and I bet it's worth $700. So just jump on it quickly! :)
ReplyDeleteWe have a Toyota Corolla that we LOVE and is amazing. So much so that when we thought it was going to die a year ago (we hit a large deer), we looked into just buying a new Corolla. But somehow the people fixed it for way less than I thought they would! So it's saved and keeps going. When the oil change guy handed me back the keys last week, he said "That car is in great shape for 165 thousand miles on it!"
ReplyDeleteWe love our Toyota Matrix. We bought it in 2003, and with 160,000 miles on it it is still going strong. It gets 32 miles to the gallon - city and highway - and holds so much crap. We bought a CRV last year, and while I love it, I don't think it was quite the deal the Matrix is. And it's a Toyota, so you know that's a good thing!
ReplyDeleteI hate getting gas too- absolutely put it off until the last minute. It must be the combination of paying too much money for gas and having to take time out of my schedule to do it.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait until Jacob gets into the pool thing. I've taken him once but he seemed too cold to be excited. I had to get him out before his lips turned blue (and it was a heated pool too!).
Look at Kia's...they are truly nice cars and very reasonably priced compared to Honda and Toyota and they have a great warranty
ReplyDeleteLOVE the Nissan Altima.
ReplyDeleteI was so mad yesterday when I had to pull off the interstate and get gas 20 miles away from home. I thought I was actually going to run out of gas, because there was a long stretch of nothing and I'd been driving on E for about 30 miles. If I'd gotten gas before I left town, I wouldn't have had that problem. I can't explain it. But I hate filling up! Don't get me started on getting an oil change either!
ReplyDeleteI love my Corolla, but my next car is going to be a hybrid for that reason. The more miles to the gallon, the less often I have to fill up! :)
I third on the Toyota Matrix - have had mine for 7 years now and love it. You feel like you have a small car (gas mileage is great), but it holds soooo much stuff (can even flip the front passenger seat down forward in case you have something long to put in) and is taller than a normal sedan so it's easier to get in/out of.
ReplyDeleteHave you talked to a doctor about sleep? Maybe a sleep study is a good idea. There's all sorts of new research on the danger of not geting enough so get yourself checked out.
ReplyDeleteCars - I am a Mazda girl all the way. My family has owned 7 in the last 18 years. I'm on my second Protege (the precursor to the 3) and my mom and dad both have a 3. We just love the brand and the mileage is AMAZING. My car is 10 years old and gets 34 mpg in the city. They're also tanks. I've been in more piddly little accidents than I care to admit and it's always come out fine. I've got 116,000 on this one and will hopefully be driving it at least until 200,000!
ReplyDelete